Slate is also called "the sleeping bread" in Fontanabuona valley (Genoa) and this espression gives the idea of its importance to the local economy. Slate extraction began in Italy in the XII century, as old texts and documents report. Fontanabuona slate was soon considered better, for its quality, than that one of the near valleys.
The systematic extraction activity in Fontanabuona began at mid XIX century.
The current annual processing of raw material extracted from Fonatnabuona is approximately 800.000 tons.

Slate extraction is mainly varried out in underground quarries. The search for a quarry is made by means of geological drillings and inspections based on external and internal references. Notwithstanding geological drillings and inspections, it sometimes happends that the deposit found are small or of poor quality, and therefore do not make the necessary investment worthwhile.

Preparation of the quarries is handled by highly qualify technicians using specialized equipment (such as the rock lifting machine designed by Ligurian excavators) with which the valuable blocks are removed from the seam which is found among the sandy stratum.

Slate is a natural stone which is greatly appreciated in the building industry especially for coverings and flooring.

Steps, floors, baseboards, habd-rail covering are only a few example of how slate can be employed in this sector. The combination with other stones of different colour and nature such as marble, for example, enables to create polychromic and refined manufactured floor.

The company has always dealt with slate extraction and processing.

Thanks to tradition, experience and modern technologies, "F.lli DEMARTINI Ardesia S.r.l." is a leading firm in the "blackboard" manufacturing: Its products are also commercialized on an international level.

As the blackboards, fireplaces are a category of articles where F.lli Demartini have a great experience. Beside the standar articles, we are able to realize every fireplace on a plan and make it with the best materials and with the usual accuracy.

Our blackboards have a guarantee of forthy years' experience and have got the following Certifications: UNI 9149/87, UNI 9300/88, UNI EN 12720/99.

Slate blackboards are made in various size and can be squared, ruled, smooth, with wooden frames or any other material required; they can be wall-mounted or placed on fixed or folding easels.

Apart from the traditional uses of slate (blackboards, billard tables, roof covering or outside coverings), over the last few it has also become of increasing interest in the field of interior disign material.

This is why blackboards are now easily found in restaurant, snack-bar, homes and offices as part of furnishing or as a useful and long-lasting work instrument.

Time has changed many things in schools but the blackboard remains an irreplaceable part of the classroom.